Carnival sends trio to Galveston in 2015
Carnival Cruise Lines will have three ships cruising year-round from Galveston, Texas, for the first time in February when it brings the Carnival Freedom to the market for seven-day cruises, offering itineraries to Mexico, the Caribbean, Florida and the Bahamas. The 3,000-passenger ship will join the Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph, which offer seven-day and four- and five-day cruises, respectively. Together the three ships will offer nearly 200 sailings per year, Carnival said. Before the Freedom's arrival from Fort Lauderdale, the ship will undergo planned upgrades under Carnival's Fun Ship 2.0 program.
Spirit to expand to Kansas City market
Spirit Airlines said it will add Kansas City as the 56th destination on its route map this summer when it launches nonstop service to Dallas, Chicago, Detroit and Las Vegas on Aug. 7 and to Houston on Aug. 8. Initially, each new route will get one daily roundtrip.
ASTA steps up fight against airline bill
ASTA is exhorting its members to launch a letter-writing campaign to Capitol Hill opposing an airline-backed bill that would allow airlines' ads and computer displays to list base fares (plus mandatory fees), less government taxes and fees. Airlines say the Transparent Airfares Act (H.R. 4156) would put them on the same footing as other merchants that advertise their prices without tax, but ASTA blasted the bill as "anti-consumer," claiming it would complicate low-fare searches. The bill has been approved by a House Committee and could be headed for a floor vote soon. As of last week, no companion measure had been introduced in the Senate.
Nano Hotel brand eyes New York City
Cachet Hotel Group, a Hong Kong management company formed last year, said it plans to launch a lifestyle brand called Nano Hotels for experienced travelers "who don't care about brands." In a partnership with New York developer Harry Gross, the company said it will roll out plans for its first property in Manhattan later this year. Cachet said the Nano brand promises "striking exterior architecture" and minimalist interior design.
U.S. debut for Hotel G set for San Francisco
A Hong Kong hospitality firm plans to reopen a century-old building on San Francisco's Union Square as the Hotel G. A May 2 opening is planned for the 153-room property, which opened as the Fielding Hotel in 1909 and most recently housed the Hotel Frank. It's the first U.S. hotel for GCP Hospitality, whose portfolio includes Pullman Hotel G properties in Thailand.
Swire to include hotel in Miami development
Hong Kong-based Swire Hotels unveiled plans to open its first hotel in the U.S. in 2015, in Miami's Brickell City Centre, a mixed-use development by the hotel firm's parent, Swire Properties. The hotel will be a 263-room East Hotel, a lifestyle brand Swire launched in Hong Kong in 2010. The property will also have 89 serviced apartments.
Choice inks deal for China projects
Choice Hotels signed a development agreement with a Chinese firm, Boli Hotel Management Co., to bring the Quality and Clarion brands to China, beginning with a property in Hangzhou. Choice first entered the China market with its Comfort Inn brand.
Friends & Colleagues
Gogo Vacations has promoted Randy Alleyne to president. He had been the company's vice president of sales. Alleyne succeeds Marg Mulholland, who is returning to Australia after two years as president. She is taking a position with Flight Centre Travel Group, Gogo's parent company. Alleyne, who joined Gogo in January 2013, was previously executive vice president of sales and strategy with RSG Alliance, a provider of business services. He had also held executive positions with Cydcor, Banfield/PetSmart and Circuit City. Alleyne began his sales career as a regional sales manager with Walmart. • • • Hard Rock International promoted Nora Swire, its director of marketing for hotels and casinos, to senior director of marketing for hotels and casinos. Swire has more than 15 years of experience in hospitality, real estate and retail marketing. She has been with Hard Rock since 2009. • • • The Travel Corp. has named Madhvi Buch to the newly created position of CEO of Destination America, the company's private label and custom group division. Buch had served as manager, director and vice president at Destination America. Previously, she was the Travel Corp.'s vice president of the call center in Anaheim, Calif. • • • Industry consultant Marc Mancini, an occasional contributor to Travel Weekly, has been appointed visiting professor at Shanghai Maritime University, where he helped launch the school's new Cruise Executive MBA program. He will remain based in Los Angeles. • • • Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas promoted Karen Cruitt to the position of vice president of leisure sales. Cruitt joined Atlantis in 1998 as national sales manager and most recently served as the executive director of leisure sales.